A Moment of Eternity

By Uenki

Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter. However, I own the plot.

CHAPTER 3: GATHERING

"Oh my, what a grotesque scene! How charming!" Luna exclaimed.

Luna had finally got to reading Evans' books, much to everyone's shock. There weren't many who haven't read or heard of Evans' books, luckily Hermione corrected the situation by insisting that Luna read the entire series. Evidently she thought that the death of Jake's father was charming…

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Luna's comment. Luna's way of thinking, always irked her deeply. It was just so illogical and random that Hermione had to wonder if Luna was born in the clouds. To Hermione, Luna was always in a dream-like-state sprouting out nonsense that most people wouldn't find outside of a confusing dream. Despite all this though, Hermione was glad for her presences, as she had done wonders for Hermione's redhead best friend, though Hermione did often wondered which quality of Luna had attracted Ron, or at least, looked appealing to Ron.

Hermione was currently at Ron's house for dinner, she did this often as a get together and to stay in touch with her school friends. With her living in the muggle world, it was a bit difficult to keep in contact with all her old school buddies, especially with them secluded in the wizarding world.

As of right now Hermione was having a nice little conversation with Luna about Evans' books to pass up the time while Ron finished dinner. It always amused her that the stereotypical household wife and bring home the bacon husband never applied to Ron's family. Especially with Ron doing most of the chores as Luna had the tendency to blow things up when dealing with household appliances. Luckily she makes up for it but doing outside errands. Like tonight, she was the one at the store while Ron was busily preparing dinner.

"Um, most people just will not say an ugly scene is appealing," Hermione corrected a few minutes later as she process Luna's comment. "Though, I guess everybody has their own opinion." She added on, uncertain. Luna just smiled, warmly as she closed the book with a soft thud.

"Dinner's ready," Ron called from the dining room.

"Coming" Luna and Hermione responded before standing up and heading towards the dining room.

Awaiting them was an assortment of foods, though, while plenty for everybody it did looked a bit charred on the edges. Hermione gave a small sigh. At least this time round, Ron's cooking had improved. When Hermione had said that Ron was cooking dinner, it would have been more appropriate to say that he was attempting at dinner, since his cooking skills were abysmal. As they settled in their seats, Hermione gave a couple compliments so Ron wouldn't feel to bad about this night's dinner. The boy just always feels so depressed after cooking.

"You're definitely improving Ron, in no time you'll be a master chef," Hermione offered one last time, but changed the topic when she noticed the words had no effect on the depressed boy.

"Oh, where's Mary?" Hermione ask, thinking about a the little girl that always seem to perk up Ron.

"Well, Mary is-" Ron started but was cut off by a loud, 'I'm here!'.

A redhead who looked no older than four scurried down the stairs loudly with a musical box in her hands. Mary grinned from ear to ear; her brown orbs were twinkling with joy when she noticed that her favorite 'Aunt' Hermione had come for a visit.

"Aunt Hermione" Marry exclaimed and tackled Hermione in a huge hug when Hermione stood up.

In the end, Mary was sitting on Hermione's lap with Ron frowning disapprovingly. All the while, Luna was laughing softly at the common site.

"Mary, you really shouldn't bother Hermione when she's eating dinner," Ron chided, gently. Unfortunately his lecture feel deft to the four-year-old as she poked her tongue out at her father and gave him an evil eye. "Blearghhh!" Mary cried, playfully.

"C'mon Mary, let's tuck in, okay?" Hermione questioned smiling gently and brushing Mary's hair backwards.

"Yes, Aunt Hermione!"

Ron sighed once again in a depressed mood. Mary was very close with Hermione even closer than Mary was to her father. Which isn't saying much since Mary was even closer with her 'Uncle' Harry, who would send her little gifts, than her own father.

As the small family finished up their dinner Mary suddenly then hopped down from her seat and jumped around with the musical box in her hands.

"Look, Aunt Hermione! It's the present Uncle Harry gave me last year! Wanna see?" And without waiting for an answer Mary promptly then opened the lid of the beautiful silver musical box. When the music box open a soothing melody flowed from it, making the occupants of the room feel relax and happy, much like a phoenix song would.

"Isn't it pretty?" Mary questioned, seemingly in bliss. Hermione nodded with a light-hearted smile.

It was then, two soft pops was heard. It was Draco, with his green and black robes and Ginny, with her red and golden robes. 'Some things never do change…' Hermione mused as she saw their outfits.

Unfortunately when Draco had apparated he accidentally ran into Mary when he tried to recover from the uncomfortable travel. In turn her musical box had slipped from her hands and shattered on the hard floor of the house.

Mary could only stare at the musical box, wide eyed as everybody else gasped.

"Now you really have done it, you bouncing ferret!" Ginny shrieked, her eyes ablaze.

"What, you old, tattered Weasel!" Draco stuttered slightly, thinking of a better word to describe the redhead he'd been dating for the past two years.

Ginny started screaming at the poor blonde, as all he could do was put his head down and nod every once in a while.

"Argh, shut up shut up shut up!" Mary screamed, almost bursting everyone's eardrums in the process. She was crying silently for her lost of her most precious gift and it broke Draco's heart.

Draco knelt down to the child's height, and tried to comfort the child, but it didn't help much.

"Look Mary, I am sorry, okay? Please don't be angry," Draco stumbled onto his words slightly, as he was not used to apologizing. Forcefully, Mary pushed Draco away and ran to Hermione, sniffling.

Everybody watched for a few minutes as the small girl wept into her Aunts shoulder, Draco had whipped out his wand tried to repair the music box with a 'Reparo' spell, however, to his utter dismay, nothing happened. Even though the shattered pieces did mended together, the music wouldn't play when opened. Draco picked up the box and handed it to Mary, who tearfully, accepted it. Hermione eyed Draco sympathetically but said nothing. Draco heaved a sigh and sat beside Ginny, who gave a huff of annoyance.

"Come on Mary, I will ask Uncle Harry to fix that musical box for you," Hermione reassured, ruffling Mary's head, while Mary gave her a hopeful look.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Hermione affirmed gently soothing the distressed girl.

Apartment, Study Room

Hermione eyed the musical box wearily, she knew nothing about mechanical devices or at least how to make them, what with her just saying 'Reparo' and everything automatically fixing itself, she had never needed to know how it work. But the music box was different. The 'Reparo' charm did fix the appearance of the box, but it didn't fix the melody and she knew the exact reason; Harry.

Hermione folded her arms as she fingered the palm-sized musical box in her hands. 'Harry must have done some alterations with this musical box using magic.'

With that thought, Hermione took out a parchment and a quill. She started to write to Harry. She sighed, hoping that this time it will reach him. She made a mental note that she needed to head to the Owlery in Diagon Alley to get her mail sent the next day.

Cottage located somewhere on Earth

Inside the little cottage was a mess. Books were strewn around everywhere, on the floor, on the table, in the sink. It was literally a librarian's nightmare and amidst the piles and piles of books sat a young man with his head cradled in his arms, sleeping.

A soft fluttering of wings was heard before a letter and a parcel fell directly on Harry's head.

Harry woke up immediately, thinking that it was some sort of disaster, however, after he glanced around he relaxed seeing as there was no threat. After a long moment, he stood up from the chair groggily and hurried towards the bathroom.

When he was all washed up and out of the bathroom with his spectacles on, he sat on the cushioned study chair. With a quick wave of his hand, the books on his desk was cleared away, all returning to their respective bookcases.

When he noticed the parcel, that he tore the paper package off and stared the music box confusedly, he knew it was the music box he had given to Mary as a Christmas gift last year, but he had no clue why he was holding it right now. Luckily his confusing was only short lived as he found two letters on the ground one from Hermione and the other one from Mary.

With a smile, he started on Hermione's.

A/N: Ta-daa! Done.